Study: Georgia Ports Support 439,000 Jobs

According to a study by the University of Georgia, the state’s ports support 439,220 full- and part-time jobs, or one in 11 jobs across the state.

The study, performed by the university’s Selig Center for Economic Growth, looked at Fiscal Year 2017. Compared to the previous report, covering Fiscal Year 2014, the number of jobs was up by 70,000, or 19 percent.

Personal income derived from port-supported jobs totaled $25 billion statewide in FY2017, the study found.

“The deepwater ports of Savannah and Brunswick are strong drivers of economic and employment opportunity across the state,” said Griff Lynch, Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) executive director. “Bringing jobs and investment to Georgia is a central part of GPA’s mission.”

According to the report, authored by Jeffrey Humphreys, port activity accounted for 11 percent of Georgia’s total sales in FY2017, reaching $106 billion. “Deepwater ports are one of Georgia’s strongest economic engines, fostering the development of virtually every industry,” Humphreys stated in the report. “The ports are especially supportive of other forms of transportation, manufacturing, wholesale and distribution centers, and agriculture.”

The Terry College of Business study found that maritime trade amounts to $44 billion in state gross domestic product, or 8 percent of Georgia’s total GDP. Business conducted through the ports resulted in $5.9 billion in federal taxes, $1.4 billion in state taxes and $1.5 billion in local taxes, according to the report.

“The findings are a testament to the powerful, positive impacts that trade through Georgia’s ports have—supporting not only business opportunity, but important infrastructure and services funded through tax proceeds on every level of government,” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood.